Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-10-14
SHENANDOAH COUNTY FAIR.

I the lnlid day oil The Second Annual
exhibition of the Shenandoah
County Far The sky was clear
and bright, the air crisp and brac.
ng and rom eight 10 ten Thousand
people in The most joyous humor.
The fair daughters of Shenandoah
had gathered from every portion of
the country, and with their grace
/ iul forms aud sweet faces and taste
iul apparel gave inspiration 10 the
occasion. OF course the flower of
the manhood OF Shenandoah and
the adjacent counties was there,
drawn as much by the charms and
influence Of woman. as to see and
participate in one of the most sue
cessfnl exhibitions that has ever
been witnessed in the Valley.
The train from Stanton num-
bered about ten or dozen passen-
ger coaches, and before it reached
the Fair grounds, half mile south
of Woodstock, the cars were all
filed, between 800 and 600 people
disembaTking at that point. Your
correspondent was fortunate in
meeting with his old friend Gen.
Gilbert &. Meem. and his interest
ing family. az the crowd was pas.
sing from the ears to the grounds.
To his courtesy and kindness he is
indebted for attentions, and TO his
accomplished wife for share in
her snack basket, as the day wore
away. Reaching the vicinity Of
the Grand Stand, we met the Pres
ident Of the Fair, DR.. Frank King.
to whose energy and administra.
tive ability most of the success Of
the exhibition was due. Although
busy in answering demands and
constantly engaged with the work
before him, hr took the tine to ex-
tend cordial greeting aud give
directions for advantages IN sight
seeing and observing the progress
of the days program that other
wise might not have been enjoyed.
The Grand Stand is capable Of
seating at least 1000 people. Eve
~ seat was soon occupied, aud be-
fore the bell call for the commence.
ment Of the days exercises on the
track, at least five hundred persons
foun d stadiDg room in the aisles
and on the outer circles of the
seats. In addition, the entire cir.
euit of the track was lined with
dense crowd Of people. while as
many more were around and In the
main exhibition building where
were arranged the products of the
field, the garden and the orchard,
as well as the innumerable varie.
ties exhibited by the skilful and
careful housewives, from the bread
and cakes TO hand embroidery of
exquisite design and workmanship;
Jellles and preserves. pickles hand.
some laces and useful carpets; silk
spun from cocOOns raised IN the
county, and hundreds of other va.
rletles of the artistic ingenuity of
the fair daughters of old Shenan-
doah. There was one bed quilt
ninety years old, with colors as
bright and warp and wool as strong I
AMI durable as if woven yes:er. /
day. Another bed spread, gotten
up by a lady - years old, with ami +
mails and birds and the "human
form devine' and notices, ingen-
iously worked all over it. There
were also on exhibition, closely
kept under the eyes of Mrs. Gen.
}. II. Williams and Col. Geo. Rye,
who were in charge OF this depart
ment, a German book, 800 years
old; a History Of the Martyrs, in
German, $50 years old; and Ser
mons on the Pslams, 12j years old
all bound in leather, and in a re.
narkable state Of preservation
There was too, an old arm chair 30
years old, crude in design and con-
but durable enough TO
the contact of century
Of knocks and strains. This de.
Dartment surpassed i'm the variety
md the perfection Of its exhibitions
anything we he'd ever seen, not ex.
'ep,ing the State Fairs. Every
hing was tastelully arranged un-
Ter the intelligent administration
If the accomplished Mrs. Williams
md her assistants. And added to
he pleasnrable emotions Of seeing
md examining such a vast cOllec-
ion Of grOwths and handiwork was
he polite and cordial greeting that I
he stranger met from the manage
nent. Z
The cattle. sheep and rOadsters {
presented a creditable appearance, !
quail TO many Of the older Fairs of 1
he State, and in machinery and !
arm implements, as well as buggies |
nd carriages, all manufactured in c
he county, the catalogue was l
urprse as we'll as testimony to the u
Industrial progress that is being I
lade in the Valley. @
The racing was good. First the j
rOtters. then the PAGERS, then a fat r
ace, and then Myrtle Peek flying a
round the track standing erect on r
wo blooded bays, and guiding them o
18th a nerve that was remarkable 5
! lady OF such delicate form and T.
rake up. The fiery ste Dis ran neck "
nd neck at the rate of a mile in h
'ss than two minutes, and then I
anne the five mile race, changing II
Orses every mile without touching e
ne ground. As one horse would l.
Omplete tie circuit of a half mile o
vice, Miss Peek would be lifted to 81
mother horse, IN readiness, and ere 81
he had scarcely touched the sad. v
lie, the spirited animal would be a
II at the top of his speed. The >
We miles were made in 10 minutes Sc
nd 80 seconds, the last mile with n
Tlderless horse, a beautiful sorrel, al
the lead, which he bravcly kept j
the finish, coming ont about two 10
myths ahead. This was the most p
Sciting episode in the days pro. It
ram, and every portion of it car hi
ed ont according to the letter. ell
Iiss Peek is "A superb rider, young cl
nd handsome, and fully met the al
lpectations of those who witness. "
| her extraordinary horseback dl
CT
Take the Fair as awhole, and we
ave never seen its superior, and